Greek man held in stabbing of anti-fascist rapper

AP , Associated Press

Sep. 21, 20138:28 AM ET

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek authorities say a man with ties to an extreme right party accused of fatally stabbing an anti-fascist rapper has been jailed after testifying to an examining magistrate and a prosecutor.

Kostas Tsironis

Policemen escort a man, accused in the fatal stabbing of a 34-year-old musician described as an anti-fascist activist, as they arrive at the prosecutor's office in Piraeus, near Athens, Greece, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013. Greece's anti-terrorism division has taken over the investigation into the murder of anti-fascist rapper Pavlos Fyssas, blamed on a supporter of the far-right Golden Dawn Party, the Public Order Ministry said Friday. The order followed the arrest of the 45-year-old suspect in the fatal stabbing early Wednesday. In the wake of the slaying, the government also appealed to a Supreme Court prosecutor to investigate more than 30 offenses it says are linked to the ultranationalist party. (AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis)

Policemen escort a man, accused in the fatal stabbing of a 34-year-old musician described as an anti-fascist activist, as they arrive at the prosecutor's office in Piraeus, near Athens, Greece, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013. Greece's anti-terrorism division has taken over the investigation into the murder of anti-fascist rapper Pavlos Fyssas, blamed on a supporter of the far-right Golden Dawn Party, the Public Order Ministry said Friday. The order followed the arrest of the 45-year-old suspect in the fatal stabbing early Wednesday. In the wake of the slaying, the government also appealed to a Supreme Court prosecutor to investigate more than 30 offenses it says are linked to the ultranationalist party. (AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis)

Protesters shout slogans during a protest against the stabbing of Pavlos Fyssas, who died early Wednesday, in the suburb of Nikaia, near Athens, Greece, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013. Greece's government moved Thursday to crack down on the ultranationalist Golden Dawn party after the fatal stabbing of an anti-fascist rapper, as Europe's top human rights official warned in an interview that Greece was the most worrying example of a wider European drift toward radicalization. The death of 34-year-old Pavlos Fyssas early Wednesday shocked the country and led to widespread condemnation from across the Greek political spectrum and abroad. (AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis)

Protesters shout slogans during a protest against the stabbing of Pavlos Fyssas, who died early Wednesday, in the suburb of Nikaia, near Athens, Greece, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013. Greece's government moved Thursday to crack down on the ultranationalist Golden Dawn party after the fatal stabbing of an anti-fascist rapper, as Europe's top human rights official warned in an interview that Greece was the most worrying example of a wider European drift toward radicalization. The death of 34-year-old Pavlos Fyssas early Wednesday shocked the country and led to widespread condemnation from across the Greek political spectrum and abroad. (AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis)

Policemen escort a man, accused in the fatal stabbing of a 34-year-old musician described as an anti-fascist activist, as they arrive at the prosecutor's office in Piraeus, near Athens, Greece, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013. Greece's anti-terrorism division has taken over the investigation into the murder of anti-fascist rapper Pavlos Fyssas, blamed on a supporter of the far-right Golden Dawn Party, the Public Order Ministry said Friday. The order followed the arrest of the 45-year-old suspect in the fatal stabbing early Wednesday. In the wake of the slaying, the government also appealed to a Supreme Court prosecutor to investigate more than 30 offenses it says are linked to the ultranationalist party. (AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis)

Protesters shout slogans during a protest against the stabbing of Pavlos Fyssas, who died early Wednesday, in the suburb of Nikaia, near Athens, Greece, Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013. Greece's government moved Thursday to crack down on the ultranationalist Golden Dawn party after the fatal stabbing of an anti-fascist rapper, as Europe's top human rights official warned in an interview that Greece was the most worrying example of a wider European drift toward radicalization. The death of 34-year-old Pavlos Fyssas early Wednesday shocked the country and led to widespread condemnation from across the Greek political spectrum and abroad. (AP Photo/Kostas Tsironis)

Court officials say the 45-year-old suspect, whose name hasn't been officially released, has said he was being attacked by a group of people and acting in self-defense when he stabbed 34-year-old Pavlos Fyssas in the chest Wednesday.

Police officials said Saturday the suspect has acknowledged "loose" ties with extreme right party Golden Dawn, saying he has only helped in distributing food to the poor.

Authorities are examining cellphone records to find whether the attack on Fyssas was coordinated. The suspect denies having talked to any Golden Dawn officials before the attack.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek authorities say a man with ties to an extreme right party accused of fatally stabbing an anti-fascist rapper has been jailed after testifying to an examining magistrate and a prosecutor.